As of 7th October, it is now a legal requirement for any dog entering the UK from Romania to have tested negative for Brucella Canis before importation. This is definitely a step in the right direction the number of dogs being rescued and rehomed from overseas has increased dramatically in recent years.
In 2022 the UK saw the first case of Brucellosis transmission from an imported pet to an owner which not only resulted in the severe ill health of the owner, but also the euthanasia of the imported pet along with the other dogs in the household. In addition, we have also seen two cases of Brucella in the clinic which have been picked up from blood tests after importation.
What is Brucella canis?
This is a bacteria which can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. It can produce a range of symptoms, including lethargy, fever, swollen lymph nodes and reproductive problems. This is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. There is no treatment for brucellosis and there is no vaccine currently available for dogs.
It is extremely important for owners to fully understand what these risks are and how they can help preserve the disease-free status of the UK to maintain the future welfare of our pets.
If my pet has tested negative before entering the UK, does it need to be tested again?
Many of the diseases seen in Europe can take up to 6 months after infection to show positive on tests, so a negative Brucella test at the time before import does not guarantee your pet is completely disease free. As mentioned, the changes this week are certainly a step in the right direct, but further improvements to pet travel, owner education and legislation is needed. Finally, we must also bear in mind that many imported pets can harbour potentially life-threatening diseases yet show no outward clinical signs, we call these “Trojan pets” and they pose the risk of passing on their infections to other dogs and people and establishing these diseases in the UK.
Why is Romania the only country that is affected?
Based on the current samples that have been carried out in recent years, Romania has provided the highest total number of positive Brucella canis infected dogs imported into the UK. Regardless of the country of origin, we would encourage anyone who is importing a dog from the EU, not just Romania, to follow the updated guidelines for Brucella canis testing.
What is the current imported pet policy at Mayne Vets?
As a nation of animal lovers, we would all agree that adopting a pet to give it a better life is a truly admirable thing to do. However, it is important to understand that adopting a pet from overseas does come with some additional risks and responsibilities. These diseases can have devastating consequences and as such, we have taken the decision to implement a protocol to ensure all our imported patients are tested for the following diseases within 6 months of registering with us:
- Canine Brucellosis
- Leishmania
- Babesia
- Ehrlichia
- Heartworm (Dirofilaria)
- Anaplasma
This not only helps us to protect our team (who are most at risk while handling blood samples and reproductive organs during neutering surgery), but also to help reduce the chance of these diseases becoming established in the UK, affecting the human and dog population.
What are the changes the government have made that will impact me rescuing or rehoming a pet from Romania?
To qualify for importation, two tests must be carried out:
- Brucella iELISA (indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) – this test is highly sensitive for detecting antibodies for Brucella canis
- Brucella SAT (Serum Agglutination Test) – this test looks for the presence of Brucella canis, by assessing the reaction between antibodies and bacteria in the body
The two tests work in combination, the SAT is more sensitive to antibodies, which are more abundant during early stages of infection, and the iELISA detects antibodies which are more abundant after the early stages of infection and during chronic infection. This combination gives good coverage for detection of disease from early to the later chronic stages of infection.
Both tests must be negative in order for the dog to be allowed to enter UK. The dog is then able to enter the UK no later than 30 days from when the blood sample was taken. If the time period exceeds 30 days a new blood test would be required delaying the process. Once you have been given a negative result, you are able to apply for importation, and results should be uploaded 2 days before travel. If the test comes back positive, you cannot import the dog into the UK.
Further information can be found below: